15:20 Naas

Sunday 23 February 2025

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 4m 22.40s

Gabbys Cross²⁹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 125| C| D

16/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. Respectable eighth of 25 in handicap hurdle (20/1) at Punchestown (23.5f, good to soft). Off 9 months. Significantly down in trip. No forlorn hope.

Form: 072208-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Balko D'ange²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Niall Moore⁽⁵⁾| T: P Fenton| OR: 124| BF| D

10/3

Winner in hurdle at Limerick in December. Good second of 7 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19.4f, soft, 9/4) 20 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Back down in trip. Progressing recently.

Form: 40-2212

Ballystone⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 122| D

40/1

First run since leaving T. Gibney when below form eleventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (16f, good, 80/1) 58 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 82/155-0

American Money²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E & P Harty| OR: 120| CD

10/1

C&D winner. 11/1, below form fifth of 11 in handicap chase at this course (20.1f, heavy) 28 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Back down in trip. Must improve.

Form: 710-P85

Captains Nephew^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 116| D

7/2

Respectable sixth of 14 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (17f, good to soft, 6/1) 22 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Can give a good account.

Form: 1F-9756

The Names Jock¹⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr J L Gleeson⁽³⁾| T: J & T Kiely| OR: 116| BF| D

66/1

Twenty first of 22 in handicap at Leopardstown (13f, good, 33/1). Switches from Flat to hurdles. Fairly useful hurdler, but needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 8027/55

Semblance Of Order⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Ewing| T: A Oliver| OR: 114

25/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Fairly useful winner at 8f on flat. Eighth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (19f, heavy, 33/1) 54 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 1-88F8

Duke Of Leggagh^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 112| CD

9/2

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Fairly useful winner at 10f on flat. Career best when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle (11/1) at this course (15.7f, good to soft) 15 days ago, digging deep. Not taken lightly in his current mood.

Form: 75031

Miss Gherkin¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: P Croke| OR: 112| D

12/1

Creditable 9½ lengths fifth of 11 to Duke of Leggagh in handicap hurdle (11/1) at this course (15.7f, good to soft) 15 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 592555

Kimy²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jake Coen⁽³⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 111

6/1

Winner in hurdle at Tramore in September. Good second of 19 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at Leopardstown (18f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Firmly in the picture.

Form: 631P72

San Aer^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 101

7/1

Creditable third of 9 in handicap hurdle (13/2) at Thurles (15.5f, good) 35 days ago. Needs considering again.

Form: 703643

Forecasts

Balko D'ange (10/3), Captains Nephew (7/2), Duke Of Leggagh (9/2), Kimy (6/1), San Aer (7/1), American Money (10/1), Miss Gherkin (12/1), Gabbys Cross (16/1), Semblance Of Order (25/1), Ballystone (40/1), The Names Jock (66/1)

Plenty with chances but recent course scorer DUKE OF LEGGAGH rates just the pick of these weights so edges the vote from good Leopardstown runner-up Kimy. Balko d'Ange and Miss Gherkin both need factoring in too with Captains Nephew completing the shortlist.